Batting

McKeesport, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Softball Team (9-8, 7-5) suffered a set back over the weekend when they got swept in a four-game series against PSU-Beaver over the weekend. They entered the weekend with a one game lead in the PSUAC West Division over PSU-Fayette and were looking to continue the roll they had been on.

The weekend started off with a back and forth affair as the two teams went into extra innings tied at eight runs apiece. PSUGA scored a run in the top of the eighth on an RBI ground out by Hailey Snyder (Connelsville, PA./Connlesville) to give them a 9-8 lead. However, Beaver bested PSUGA in the bottom half when Jessica Hughes belted a three-run walk-off home run to give Beaver the 11-9 win in game one.

PSUGA looked to rebound in game two as they took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Lacie Lautner (Pleasant Hills, PA./Thomas Jefferson). However, Beaver pulled away scoring four runs in the bottom of the third and two in the bottom of the fifth to get out to their eventual 6-2 victory. The only other run for PSUGA came via Rachel Able (Pataskla, OH/Watkins Memorial High) reaching on an error to score Lautner.

PSUGA came back to Beaver on day two looking for better luck as they tried to take at least one game in the series. Beaver dominated all game long in game one picking up an 11-0 win thanks to the 3, 4, and 5 hitters combining to go 6 for 9 with 7 RBI. Tara Love (Chandler, AZ./Campo Verde HS) pitched the complete game giving up 11 runs, nine earned, on 12 hits while walking four.

PSUGA took the lead early thanks to a two RBI single by Maddie Kyle (Carnegie, PA./Carlynton) and a RBI single by Alyssa Guzzie (Fox Chapel, PA./Fox Chapel) that gave PSUGA an early 3-0 lead. However, Beaver was once again able to battle back putting up five runs in the top of the fifth on their way to the 6-3 victory and the sweep of the four-game series.

PSUGA now sits at 9-8 overall and 7-5 in PSUAC play with the playoff race coming down to the final week of the season. They currently sit in third place in the PSUAC West and will need to get back on track with only the top three teams making the PSUAC Playoff tournament.

They will have their opportunity for a bounce back game on Monday June 16th when they take on PSU-Fayette in doubleheader action starting at 3 p.m. The second game of the doubleheader will be played right after the first game at around 5 p.m.